Category: CROPS

Investing in perennial plants can offer great benefits to African farmers who are looking to achieve future gardening success. Perennial plants are those that live for more than two years and come with extra costs when compared to seeds. For instance, one would need to buy bulbs, potted plants, or trees which cost more than…

The Smart Potato Greenhouse Technology app uses sensors to monitor soil quality and temperature and automates irrigation Fresh from undertaking a six-month training in “Internet of Things” (IoTs) at the Catholic University of Rwanda (CUR) in the country’s Huye and Gisagara Districts, 24-year-old Clemence Uwamutarambirwa developed a mobile phone application that uses sensors to monitor soil quality…

Growers in Mbeya city have great hopes for the actions of the Tanzania Food Processors Association of Women Entrepreneurs (TAFOPA) which strives to establish 50 micro-, small and medium industries in a five-acre plot offered by Mbeya regional-council. According to Renatus Lembileki, a retired agronomist and a part-time grower of cabbages and avocados, claims the…

Agriculture is the shining light in an economic sky that is otherwise very dark over South Africa, managing growth of 15.1% in the second quarter of 2020. It is the only sector to grow amid the covid-19 lockdown damage that crushed the overall economy down by 16.4% quarter-on-quarter.  According to GDP figures released by Stats SA on Tuesday (8 September), the economic contraction adds up to a shocking 51%, if viewed on a seasonally adjusted, annualised basis.  Experts say that agriculture’s…

Illuminating paraffin is experiencing an under-recovery of 47c/ℓ, while the ULP 95 petrol price shows an under-recovery of 7c/ℓ and ULP 93 an over-recovery of about 1c/ℓ. According to the Automobile Association (AA), the current trajectory showed that all fuel types would be more expensive in August, with the increases most probably being higher than…

Lettuce is a cool-season crop that is commonly grown for salads. It has a shallow root system, making it ideal for cultivation on shallow soils, provided that there is an effective irrigation system in place. In this guide, we will take you through a step-by-step process on how to farm lettuce successfully. Step 1: Soil…

Cabbage farming is a lucrative agricultural venture in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda, providing a consistent source of income for farmers. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide on how to start cabbage farming and maximize your yield: Site Selection: Choose a well-drained site with fertile soil and access to sunlight. Conduct a soil test to determine pH…

When ploughing, furrow presses are mainly used if there is not enough time for the soil to settle gradually and tilth to form naturally. Furrow presses immediately restore capillary action and therefore retain moisture in the soil. LEMKEN, the plough specialist, is now introducing a new trailer for its proven VarioPack furrow press, which allows even large furrow presses used with…

There’s a lot of farm equipment with all sorts of purposes and functions, but the greatest is durable, practical and multipurpose. Farmers already deal with tough soil and cloudless skies, so they need help to make their jobs easier. Here are some of the best pieces of heavy machinery to have on the farm. 1.…

In a water-stressed country such as South Africa, it’s difficult to imagine any farmer complaining about having too much water. However, across the country’s irrigation schemes, lands are deteriorating due to waterlogging caused by years of incorrect water and soil management. The source of the water may be long-term irrigation, percolation from precipitation, or the…